Thor's return boosts Mets

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Photo: Julie Jacobson

Photo: Julie Jacobson

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New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard delivers against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 13, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Photo: Julie Jacobson

Thor's return boosts Mets

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New York

Noah Syndergaard was back on the mound for the New York Mets and made it clear he wants to stay.

With his name bandied about in trade talk ahead of the July 31 deadline, Syndergaard pitched out of trouble during a rusty return from the disabled list and helped himself with an RBI single as New York beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Friday night.

"If they wanted to trade me tomorrow, I really have no say in what they do," Syndergaard said. "I can't say it enough — love my time being a New York Met. I love the city, I love embracing it, I think they've embraced me.

"I said last year I wanted to be a Met my entire career. But like I said, that's outside of my control."

Amed Rosario tripled and doubled, both times over Bryce Harper's head in center field, and the Mets won for only the sixth time in their past 26 home games. Brandon Nimmo had three hits for New York, which built a three-run cushion in the first inning against struggling starter Tanner Roark.

Matt Adams homered for the inconsistent Nationals, who went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and fell back to .500 at 47-47.

After missing seven weeks with a strained ligament in his right index finger, Syndergaard (5-1) came out firing 99 mph fastballs. But he gave up seven hits in five innings and never retired the leadoff batter.

Still, the 2016 All-Star held the Nationals to one run while striking out three and walking two.

Wilmer Difo made things easier on New York by running into the first out of the third inning at third base. Syndergaard then retired Anthony Rendon and struck out Harper with two on to limit damage.

"I felt pretty good," Syndergaard said. "A step in the right direction. It's encouraging. I came out of it healthy and that's all that matters."

Difo had doubled to drive in Roark, who opened the inning with the first triple by a Washington pitcher since Joel Hanrahan in 2007.

Syndergaard also got Harper to ground into an inning-ending double play with two aboard in the fifth. Perhaps frustrated after hitting the ball hard right to Rosario at shortstop, Harper didn't hustle down the line.

"That's a conversation that Bryce and I will have tomorrow. Yeah, he didn't run that ball out the way I want him to," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "Look, I've got no beef with Bryce. I mean, Bryce comes every day to play."

Syndergaard, making his first major league start since May 25, was pulled after 75 pitches. The right-hander threw 71 in a rehab outing Sunday for Class A Brooklyn.

"It felt great getting back out there today in a competition setting and on a big league mound," he said. "It's a funny thing with fingers. Kind of need those, pretty important to pitch. I'm just happy to be back out there and healthy."

Seth Lugo overcame a wild start to his relief outing and worked two hitless innings. Robert Gsellman gave up Adams' second-deck shot in the eighth but got six outs for his fourth save.

Roark (3-12) settled in after a rough start but allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings. He and Baltimore right-hander Alex Cobb are tied for the most losses in the majors.

Roark has lost his past five starts and is 0-6 since beating Tampa Bay on June 6. Washington has dropped his past seven starts and nine of his past 10.

"Keep going, keep plugging away, keep fighting and scratching — whatever it takes," said Roark, who gave up singles to his first three batters. "We battled today. Tough loss."

Jose Bautista and Devin Mesoraco each had an RBI single in the first, sandwiched around Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly. Rosario tripled off the center-field wall to open the second and scored when a smiling Syndergaard lined a single to right field.

"I think I surprised myself a little bit," Syndergaard said.

Trainer's room

Mets: OF Yoenis Cespedes (right hip flexor) ran the bases at the team's complex in Florida and was scheduled to do so again Friday, according to manager Mickey Callaway.